Thursday evening we open Puccini’s Tosca. This dazzling and passionate production has a long history with the Company and the War Memorial Opera House. Eighty years ago in 1932 the War Memorial building opened and became the home of San Francisco Opera. The first performance in the new venue was none other than Tosca. Can you blame us for feeling a bit sentimental?

Beginning November 16, Mark Delavan will grace the War Memorial Opera House stage as Scarpia in Tosca. Before his arrival to San Francisco, Mr. Delavan took the time to answer some questions for us. What are his pre-performance rituals? What craft (besides singing, of course) does he have a passion and talent for? Read on to find out!

Have you ever wanted to create an arrest order and issue it like Scarpia does? Or to apply tattoos (temporary, of course!) like Queequeg wore in Moby-Dick? Maybe you and your family love coloring projects and would love to create costumes for your very own opera paper dolls. We’ll be hosting these projects and more in the main lobby so that opera lovers and the opera curious of all ages can take part!

Tenor Brandon Jovanovich is no stranger to San Francsico Opera audiences. But in recent years, we have seen him transition from singing Puccini (Pinkerton in 2007's Madama Butterfly and Luigi in 2009's Il Tabarro) to Wagner (Siegmund and Froh in 2011's Ring cycle). In his biggest assignment with the Company yet, Jovanovich is currently singing his role debut as the title role of Wagner's Lohengrin. We asked Brandon a few questions about Lohengrin, his fellow cast members and his favorite things to do in San Francisco.

For Los Altos-raised soprano Talise Trevigne, performing the role of Pip, the 14 year-old cabin boy, in Moby-Dick is the ultimate homecoming. We asked Trevigne five questions about her unique experiences on the Pequod and about being back in the Bay Area for this landmark production.

Introduction

Backstage at San Francisco Opera is a fascinating, fast-moving, mysterious and sacred space for the Company’s singers, musicians, dancers, technicians and production crews. Musical and staging rehearsals are on-going, scenery is loaded in and taken out, lighting cues are set, costumes and wigs are moved around and everything is made ready to receive the audience. From the principal singers, chorus and orchestra musicians to the creative teams for each opera, in addition to the many talented folks who don’t take a bow on stage, this blog offers unique insight, both thought-provoking and light-hearted, into the life backstage at San Francisco Opera.